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Thread: Car Question: Rust damage?

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    Featured Member kandie_kitten's Avatar
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    Default Car Question: Rust damage?

    Question for the car nerds...

    I'm pretty good in dealing with the mechanics of cars, but body work is beyond my talents and knowledge.

    The love of my life is a '95 3000GT...completely impractical, but serves as my weekend car/show car.

    I shoveled a lot of money and time to get her running like she was new, and she's finally mechanically perfect, so now I'm turning to the cosmetic stuff.

    The body is in remarkable shape for a 16 year old car-there's not a single dent or ding.

    But one panel is showing signs of rust damage-the paint has puckered/bubbled, and is showing spots of tell-tale brown around the puckered spots.

    Any idea of what kind of cost I am looking at to get the rust damage fixed? Is there any way to repair it, or do I need a whole new panel? I just want a ballaprk so I can figure out how much I need ot budget for it.

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    Featured Member lemiwinks31's Avatar
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    Default Re: Car Question: Rust damage?

    there is NO way you will match the faded color of a 16 yr old car...so its the whole panel at a minimum. But you need to take care of the rust, you dont want it to get worse. Depending on where it is.....I'm guessing roughly $700-$900. If you want to delay it for a while, and dont mind a color difference.....you need to sand (through the paint to the rust)until all the rust is gone, then spray primer on it(then you can spray the original color over the primer.........light coats!) That will stop the damage until you want to get the panel(or maybe the whole side or whole car) painted

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    Featured Member kandie_kitten's Avatar
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    Default Re: Car Question: Rust damage?

    ^It's meant to be a show piece car, so after the rust is repaired, there will also be a whole new paint job. $700-900 is what I thought to get the one panel replaced, then the cost of paint on top of that

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    Featured Member lemiwinks31's Avatar
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    Default Re: Car Question: Rust damage?

    Quote Originally Posted by kandie_kitten View Post
    ^It's meant to be a show piece car, so after the rust is repaired, there will also be a whole new paint job. $700-900 is what I thought to get the one panel replaced, then the cost of paint on top of that

    the $700 to $900 was the cost of professioinally preparing and painting the panel, blending it into the adjoining panels.....ridiculous, i know, but the last thing you want is a cheap pant job on a car that you have put that much into.

    if there isnt much rust, replacing the panel would probably be totally unnecessary.
    Last edited by lemiwinks31; 02-21-2011 at 03:13 PM.

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    Default Re: Car Question: Rust damage?

    How severe is the damage...? you might not need to replace the panel.

    lemiwinks is correct... the $700+ is the cost of repainting, ect... if you're repainting the whole car... it may be cheaper to have them either A. Not paint the panel and just replace it... or B. find a shop that does good paint work and that will also do your repair.
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    Default Re: Car Question: Rust damage?

    If this is a car you want to keep long term you need to determine if the rust started on the outside, or the inside. There are owners forums for most every car, Id be surprised if there isn't one that serves yours and its Dodge cousin. I suggest you find a forum, take pictures, and then ask there. Each model car has its own unique rust problems and cures. Chances are the rust is in a larger area than what you think it is, and may be manifesting itself on the other side also. Don't trust a bodyshop to do a lasting repair unless you are very specific on how you want the part repaired and see proof that they followed your directions

    The repairs are much easier if you only want something cosmetic and will be selling the car in the near future

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    Featured Member kandie_kitten's Avatar
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    Default Re: Car Question: Rust damage?

    ^No, I plan on being buried in this car, so I'm looking for a more long-term solution.

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    Default Re: Car Question: Rust damage?

    http://www.3si.org/ a quick ggogle search found this forum, Ill bet you get the most accurate answers for your specific car and rust spot there. Cars have a surprising amount of channels that divert water through the inside of the body. Those channels can get plugged with mud, dirt, leaves, etc and then the moisture builds up inside the body and rusts from the inside out. If you know where those channels come out you can periodically take a piece of wire and push it up into them to make sure they aren't getting plugged up. Its also common to get water leaks from around window and door seals that then get trapped inside. In rust belt areas the salt attacks the undercarriage and wheelwells.

    Those were leading edge cars when they came out, 4 wheel steer, twin turbos, and a lot of other tech features that were cutting edge. Ill bet its a fun ride.

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    Featured Member kandie_kitten's Avatar
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    Default Re: Car Question: Rust damage?

    ^Exactly why I love it. It was wayyy technologically advanced, so it has more features than my 2006 main car has. It's a blast to drive

    I did look at 3si.org, but they are an odd site...they are not at all welcoming to newcomers, and if you are anything less than a mechanic, they are really mean. They tear people apart who ask perfectly respectful, car-related questions.

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